Protest held over liveable neighbourhood plans

About 80 shop owners and residents have marched to protest a liveable neighbourhood in the area, as the council voted to progress plans further.

The proposals are part of the South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood, which aims to create safer roads to encourage people to walk or cycle in Southville.

About 80 people marched from North Street to the Bristol City Council Hall, as Bristol City Council approved spending £1.32m on a business case for the scheme on Thursday evening.

Zoe Mack, who organised the protest, said: "I can't really believe the scheme they're proposing. We will end up with more concerns for emergency, and for access for the elderly."

During a meeting on Thursday, councillors on the transport policy committee voted to approve spending an extra £1.32m on writing up the full business case.

The scheme will first focus on changes to road access around Windmill Hill, Totterdown, Southville and Bedminster - with some parking restrictions proposed for a wider area across the south of the city.

Macks added: "If they would just present us with options, you would find the cars would go away. They are expensive.

"A lot of people I spoke to said if they made the public transport system better we'd all be a lot happier."

The council says the scheme is about "improving the life of residents" and creating "healthier" streets where people can walk and cycle and use wheelchairs more easily.

Councillor Ed Plowden, committee chair, said: "We're making sure that we're making changes on what we initially consulted on.

"We're listening, we're taking all of that engagement and responses, and we're trying to make the scheme better."

The transport committee is aiming to decide on the final plans in September.

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